Do you have a dog who you love unconditionally, yet they continue to destroy your home? Is it a crap shoot whether there will be a chewed up mess when you walk through the door after being gone all day? If you’ve answered “yes” to these questions, you may have a destructive doggie on your hands. Unfortunately, the reason dogs destroy nearly anything they can get their paws on is due to some issues that may be avoided. Previously, we gave readers who share their home with a destructive doggie a blog to read about some of the possible medical conditions or causes of destructive chewing: Separation anxiety, fabric sucking, hunger and teething. To help dog owners avoid as much destruction as possible, our veterinary hospital has also given tips on how to implement appropriate chewing: Dog-proof your house and buy new toys. Unfortunately, some dogs’ chewing habits may be hard to break, and this is when you may have to lay your foot down by persuading them to stop. Here’s how to do so:

Gentle, Humane Manner To Implement Appropriate Chewing Toys

Puzzle Toys

If you can’t figure out why your dog has unexplained destruction, it may be because they’re bored. By identifying times of day your dog is likely destructive, make sure he has a puzzle toy filled with something yummy to keep them occupied. If you’re worried about your dog’s diet, make sure you include some of your pup’s daily food ration in the toy.

Chewing Deterrents

Unfortunately, some dogs just don’t get the hint with nice and subtle discouragements of what they can’t chew. When enough is enough, you may want to think about purchasing a chewing deterrent. Deterrents are not harmful nor cruel. When you first use a chewing deterrent, be sure you have a tissue handy. Apply a small amount of it onto the tissue and gently put the tissue in your dog’s mouth. Doing so will allow him to taste the usually sour deterrent, and spit out the tissue. You’ll know it is working if your dog either spits out the tissue, shakes their head, retch or drool. In most cases, the dog won’t touch the tissue again. Now is when to use the chewing deterrent to your advantage. Because your dog has just learned the connection between the odor and the taste of the deterrent, he’ll be less likely to chew any item that smells like it. Next, spray the chewing deterrent onto items you dog regularly chews. You’ll have to read the instructions on the back to learn how often you should be applying it, but chances are it’ll be every two to four weeks.

Make an Appointment With Our Animal Hospital if You Need More Advice

If you own a dog that’s a chewer, it may be difficult to feel like you can have all of your favorite items laying around the house. Use our tips and learn if they’ll work for you or not. In the meantime, feel free to read our past blogs and stay tuned for our next post: How To Prevent Your Dog From Destruction.